BRITISH BIRDS. 
183 
the legs pale dulky brown ; its hind claws, though 
Ihorter and more crooked than thofe of the Sky- 
lark, fufficiently mark its kind : It builds its neft 
on the ground, in folitary fpots, and conceals it be- 
neath a turf; the female lays live eggs, marked 
with brown near the larger end. 
In the fpring the cock-bird fometimes perches 
on a tall branch, Tinging with much emotion : At 
intervals he rifes to a confiderable height, hovers 
a few feconds, and drops almoft on the fame fpot, 
continuing to fing all the time ; his tones are foft, 
clear, and harmonious. In the winter its cry is 
faid to refemble that of the gralhopper, but is ra- 
ther ftronger and Ihriller : It has been called the 
Pipit Lark from its fmall lhrill cry, and in German 
Piep-lerche for the fame reafon. Mr White ob° 
ferves, that its note feems clofe to a perfon, though 
at an hundred yards diftance ; and when clofe to the 
car, feems fcarce louder than when a great way 
off : It fkulks in hedges and thick bufhes, and runs 
like a moufe through the bottom of the thorns, e~ 
yading the fight. Sometimes, early in a morning, 
when undilturbed, it fmgs on the top of a twig, ga- 
ping and ihivering with its wings. 
